Craven County educator selected for prestigious Kenan Fellowship

Friday

Erin Strohschein, a teacher at Havelock Middle School in Craven County Schools, has been named a 2020-21 Kenan Fellow.

Her fellowship was made possible through a partnership between the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership at N.C. State University and the North Carolina Coastal Federation.

Strohschein, who has been teaching for 13 years, is among the 19 teachers from across North Carolina who have been selected to participate in the 2020-21 fellowship year.

Beginning in June, she will partner with industry experts with the North Carolina Coastal Federation to assist them with their work to protect and restore coastal water quality and habitats throughout the NC coast through the development of a product that engages and informs students in their school and community. Her fellowship is supported by the Kenan Institute for Engineering Technology & Science Board of Trustees and Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership Board of Advisors.

“We are so excited to work with Erin through the Kenan Fellows Program,” said Rachel Bisesi, Coastal Education Coordinator for the North Carolina Coastal Federation in a news release. "She really impressed us with her passion for teaching, and we look forward to having her expertise to advance our educational efforts this summer.”

As part of the award, Kenan Fellows receive a $5,000 stipend and participate in 80 hours of professional development focused on project-based learning, digital learning, and leadership development. Educators who complete the year-long program remain in the classroom while growing professionally as part of a statewide network of teacher leaders. Today, an elite network of 493 Kenan Fellows are working to improve Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education in North Carolina and beyond.

“Thanks to the support of community leaders such as the NC Coastal Federation we are able to empower more teachers to ignite students’ passion for STEM in more locations across the state,” said Elaine Franklin, director of the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership in the release. “Their support allows us to provide educators with knowledge of local career opportunities available to students.”

About the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership: Established in 2000 as an initiative of the Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology & Science at N.C. State University, the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership addresses the critical need for high-quality professional development for educators and is the largest (science, technology, engineering, and math) STEM-focused teacher fellowship in North Carolina. The fellowships are made possible through the generous support of the program’s many corporate, education, and foundation partners. Visit kenanfellows.org to learn more.